A Trip to the Cataclysmic Binary Zoo: Detailed Follow-Up of 35 Recently Discovered Systems

Abstract

We report follow-up studies of 35 recently-discovered cataclysmic variables (CVs), 32 of which were found in large, automated synoptic sky surveys. The objects were selected for observational tractability. For 34 of the objects we present mean spectra and spectroscopic orbital periods, and for one more we give an eclipse-based period. Thirty-two of the period determinations are new, and three of these refine published estimates based on superhump periods. The remaining three of our determinations confirm previously published periods. Twenty of the stars are confirmed or suspected dwarf novae with periods shorter than 3 hours, but we also find three apparent polars (AM Her stars), and six systems with P > 5 h, five of which have secondary stars visible in their spectra, from which we estimate distances when possible. The orbital period distribution of this sample is very similar to that of previously discovered CVs.

Third-nearest WZ Sge-Type dwarf nova candidate ASASSN-14dx classified on the basis of Gaia Data Release 2

“…We reported a weak signal of a possible orbital period of 0.0575060(2) d (vsnet-alert 18017). Thorstensen et al (2016) estimated the orbital period to be 0.05756(6) d from Hα radial velocities via spectroscopy, and they confirmed that this value is consistent with our result. These values are close to the period detected during the outburst of 0.0575054(4) d. The averaged profiles are also similar to each other (the lower panels in figure 2).…”

“…They proposed that the decline can be caused by the development of a cavity in the inner disk and that the time scale is about a decade. For another example, Thorstensen et al (2016). SSS J122221.7-311523 (hereafter J1222) showed a fading tail lasting at least 500 d and the brightness just after the superoutburst is about 3 mag brighter (Neustroev et al 2017).…”

Hunting for eclipses: high-speed observations of cataclysmic variables

“…The eclipsing nature was confirmed by Drake et al (2014) and studied later by Thorstensen et al (2016). The highspeed eclipse shows clear white dwarf and bright-spot features.…”

New or Improved Orbital Periods of Cataclysmic Binaries

“…We report here CV orbital periods measured over the last several decades using the Hiltner 2.4m and McGraw-Hill 1.3m telescopes at MDM Observatory on Kitt Peak, Arizona, mostly with radial-velocity spectroscopy. While most of our results have been published in peer-reviewed articles (see, e.g., Thorstensen et al 2016;Thorstensen & Skinner 2012;Thorstensen et al 2015Thorstensen et al , 2010, many periods we have determined remain unpublished.…”

“…We report here CV orbital periods measured over the last several decades using the Hiltner 2.4m and McGraw-Hill 1.3m telescopes at MDM Observatory on Kitt Peak, Arizona, mostly with radial-velocity spectroscopy. While most of our results have been published in peer-reviewed articles (see, e.g., Thorstensen et al 2016;Thorstensen & Skinner 2012;Thorstensen et al 2015Thorstensen et al , 2010, many periods we have determined remain unpublished.To make our CV periods available more quickly, and prevent duplication of effort, we present in Table 1 some of our heretofore unpublished P orb s, some of which are refinements of previously-known periods. The instrumentation, observing protocols, reduction, and analysis are described in the papers cited above.…”